Brushing my teeth

When I brush my teeth, I start on the right side of my mouth. I scratch the toothbrush left to right to left in the back of my mouth as move it around the curve of my mouth two teeth at a time. After I've taken the first lap, I switch to a circular rotation, once again moving from the deep right teeth to the deep left. I repeat the same sideways and circular combination on the inside of my teeth. I end the routine with eight or nine vertical strokes on my front front four teeth, lean forward, and spit. When I am done, I rinse of my toothbrush, swoosh some water past my gums, wash my hands, and rub my tongue over my newly washed teeth. They feel cold and smooth as the aftertaste of Crest Cavity Protection cools the roof of my mouth.

Like any sanitary member of 21st century society, I brush my teeth after every meal. But, subconsciously, I find myself brushing my teeth a lot late at night. Between desperate phone calls from stressed out friends and helpless texts from lost classmates, I resort to my bathroom sink. I didn't think much of it until today; it was just something I did to pass the time between trying to find words to be the help that is needed.

But tonight I was in the bathroom at EIU and had to place my toothbrush on an unfamiliar shelf while I washed my hands. The shelf wasn't quite long enough to hold my toothbrush and it drooped over the edge, it's bristles pointing at my chest. I took it up in my hands and rubbed my thumbs over the thin bristles that I trust to make me so clean. It's crazy. This tiny plastic stick with soft hairs on the end can make me clean and shiny. Brushing my teeth makes me feel so good and all it takes is one short piece of plastic, a dab of toothpaste, and some water.

Human life is the product of billions of years of evolution and I am a part of that. The human mind is amazing and wonderful and I can't even use mine to make my friends feel good. There are a thousand functions my brain can operate, surely it should know how to calm a friend in need but I just cannot figure out how to make it do so. And still, my toothbrush, my plastic, cheap, and depthless toothbrush can leave its targets shinning and clean. Tonight, I don't even know how to start scrapping the plaque out of some situations. So, if you are relying on me to make you happy, I suggest you try your toothbrush first.